| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Village Rector by Honore de Balzac: there.
"Do you not think it has a vague resemblance to social life?" he said.
"To each its destiny. How many inequalities in that mass of trees!
Those placed the highest lack earth and moisture; they die first."
"Some there are whom the shears of the woman gathering fagots cut
short in their prime," she said bitterly.
"Do not fall back into those thoughts," said the rector sternly,
though with indulgence still. "The misfortune of this forest is that
it has never been cut. Do you see the phenomenon these masses
present?"
Veronique, to whose mind the singularities of the forest nature
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from An Unsocial Socialist by George Bernard Shaw: "She's not here," said Jane.
"I am seeking Sir Charles," he said, withdrawing somewhat
stiffly.
"What a lie!" said Jane, discomfited by his reception of her
jest. "He was talking to Sir Charles ten minutes ago in the
billiard room. Men are such conceited fools!"
Agatha had strolled to the window, and was looking discontentedly
at the prospect, as she had often done at school when alone, and
sometimes did now in society. The door opened again, and Sir
Charles appeared. He, too, looked round, but when his roving
glance reached Agatha, it cast anchor; and he came in.
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| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Betty Zane by Zane Grey: saw one. The name has been celebrated among the Hurons as long as any one of
them can remember. The Indians call her the White Crane, or Walk-in-the-Water,
because of her love for wading in the stream."
"I think we have made Isaac talk enough for one night," said Colonel Zane. "He
is tired out. Major, tell Isaac and Betty, and Mr. Clarke, too, of your jump
over the cliff."
"I have heard of that leap from the Indians," said Isaac.
"Major, from what hill did you jump your horse?" asked Alfred.
"You know the bare rocky bluff that stands out prominently on the hill across
the creek. From that spot Colonel Zane first saw the valley, and from there I
leaped my horse. I can never convince myself that it really happened. Often I
Betty Zane |
The fourth excerpt represents the element of Earth. It speaks of physical influences and the impact of the unseen on the visible world, and is drawn from Michael Strogoff by Jules Verne: and Chinese quarters of great extent, commanded by towers,
belfries, minarets, and the cupolas of three hundred
churches, with green domes, surmounted by the silver cross.
A little winding river, here and there reflected the rays of
the moon.
This river was the Moskowa; the town Moscow; the
fortified inclosure the Kremlin; and the officer of chasseurs
of the guard, who, with folded arms and thoughtful brow,
was listening dreamily to the sounds floating from the New
Palace over the old Muscovite city, was the Czar.
CHAPTER II
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